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"How Darth Vader's helmet from the original 1977 Star Wars was found in Australia"

The title makes you believe they found the original screen used helmet from the original Star Wars. But we know where the helmet currently resides - Paris - viewtopic.php?p=69958#p69958

Once you get into the article, they make you believe this is one of the original six production made helmets for A New Hope in 1977.

"It was an original mould – one of only six crafted for the 1977 film. That childhood treasure – for many years stored and forgotten in a cupboard in Chris' parents' home – was recently valued in excess of $100,000. And there is a bidding war over it."

However, even in the crappy photo the article provided, it looks like he's holding an ESB or ROTJ cast - kinda like the GS cast. It doesn't look like the chin vent has been trimmed out, and the thicker dome center stripe with the straight(ish) widow's peak visually tips me that it was very likely a cast pulled from the ROTJ production mold. Maybe...

Still. If this helmet ends up being a non-screen used ROTJ production cast for the movie, that's still one phenomenal find.

According to Gary Kurtz only three castings were pulled so that's a red flag right there. Additionally the castings were pulled in a white/off white gelcoat so there's that as well (assuming the helmet he's holding hasn't been painted) besides the dome missing the pointed widow's peak.

I suppose it could be a production related casting like the TM or GS castings from ESB or RotJ but without better reference it's hard to say.

According to Gary Kurtz only three castings were pulled so that's a red flag right there. Additionally the castings were pulled in a white/off white gelcoat so there's that as well (assuming the helmet he's holding hasn't been painted) besides the dome missing the pointed widow's peak.

I suppose it could be a production related casting like the TM or GS castings from ESB or RotJ but without better reference it's hard to say.

Really makes you wonder just how many Vader helmet casts were pulled from the production molds as mementos for the production crew and friends working on these movies.

According to Gary Kurtz only three castings were pulled so that's a red flag right there. Additionally the castings were pulled in a white/off white gelcoat so there's that as well (assuming the helmet he's holding hasn't been painted) besides the dome missing the pointed widow's peak.

I suppose it could be a production related casting like the TM or GS castings from ESB or RotJ but without better reference it's hard to say.

Thanks for that. Perhaps this is being confused with the Biba helmets for which there were six production helmets.

Things regarding this helmet match more with ESB or RotJ or even tour era helmets from those two movies. There simply isn't any basis to call this one ANH. It appear to be a standard UK Mold lineage cast, which puts it after ANH as it was the screen used ANH helmet that was molded.

Gents,I'm a Aussie & TM owner & like you have obsessed over the minute detail of vaders costume, like you love this stuff!

After talking to the man who has possession of the helmet, and listening to him describe it, I believe he has an original esb pre-production casting, and is a brother of the TM. I have been offer an opportunity to view it & compare it to my TM . Can't wait!!!!Will come back with plenty of photos, but he is due to post photos of it on the net soon.

No fear. In all of this I will pay full respect for the wishes & agreements entered into with tom.Tom, I'll send you a pm/ email, hoping you can assist him in the path of authentication

Gents,I'm a Aussie & TM owner & like you have obsessed over the minute detail of vaders costume, like you love this stuff!

After talking to the man who has possession of the helmet, and listening to him describe it, I believe he has an original esb pre-production casting, and is a brother of the TM. I have been offer an opportunity to view it & compare it to my TM . Can't wait!!!!Will come back with plenty of photos, but he is due to post photos of it on the net soon.

No fear. In all of this I will pay full respect for the wishes & agreements entered into with tom.Tom, I'll send you a pm/ email, hoping you can assist him in the path of authentication

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